In the rapidly evolving world of public transport, managing electric bus fleets presents unique challenges, especially during extreme weather conditions. The ever-increasing heatwaves in the summer and unexpected volumes of snowfalls in winter reveal the complexities of operating electric vehicles (EVs) efficiently.
With both energy consumption spiking during extreme hot and cold conditions and charging infrastructure issues arising, transport operators face significant operational hurdles.
However, Tenix Charge has emerged as a game-changing solution, transforming chaos into control for electric bus operations as electrification meets the elements!
The Challenges
An independent review conducted by NorConsult identified several critical issues:
- High Energy Consumption: New electric buses require more frequent charging during heatwaves and cold weather,potentially impacting operational efficiency due to increased energy demands.
- Charging Infrastructure Problems: Incorrect deliveries and chargers that underperformed in cold, snowy, or excessively hot conditions can create significant delays.
- Complex Operations: The diverse nature of charging solutions and vehicle types has led to chaotic depot management, with missed or delayed departures becoming increasingly common.
These challenges underscore the need for a robust system to ensure that that a fleet of over 600 electric buses can be charged efficiently every day, regardless of the weather.
The Tenix Solution
Tenix Charge, an advanced Charge Point Management System (CPMS), designed to tackle these issues head-on. By integrating smart charging, depot management and battery health monitoring, Tenix Charge offers a comprehensive solution that enables transport operators to regain control over their electric fleets.
Key Features
- Advanced Smart Charging: Utilising proven machine learning and AI, Tenix Charge optimises charging schedules based on planned routes, energy prices, and capacity constraints, leading to a reduction in energy costs by 16-27%.
- Depot Management: The system provides a live overview of charger occupancy, bus locations, and power consumption, facilitating efficient depot operations while preventing chaos.
- Battery Health Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of battery State of Health (SoH) ensures operational stability and safety, allowing for predictive maintenance and improved battery longevity.
Proven Technology: Tenix Charge Performance During Weather Extremes
During extreme Nordic weather conditions, Tenix Charge has proved its value by enabling a leading Norwegian transport operator to maintain exceptional service reliability. Despite challenging weather conditions, the operator achieved an impressive 95% accuracy in bus route scheduling.
This was made possible through smart charging powered by machine learning, which continuously optimised both schedule and capacity to ensure uninterrupted and reliable operations.
Conclusion
The electrification of bus operations is more than just a technological upgrade; it’s a strategic necessity in today’s transport landscape. With Tenix Charge, operators can confidently navigate the complexities of electric fleet management, ensuring reliable, efficient, and sustainable public transport solutions.
As electric buses become increasingly prevalent, the demand for smart software solutions will continue to grow. Tenix Charge is at the forefront of this evolution, leading the way for operators seeking to optimise performance – in all weather conditions – electrification meets the elements!
